Trolley-controlling device.



A. A. GBUSSABJLH & T. E. BARKER TROLLEY CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION TILED AYELS, 1909.

Htented May 13, 1918.

i SHEETS S HEET l A. A. GROSSARTH & T. E. BARKER.

TROLLEY CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Patent 6d May13,1913.

4 8HEET8-SHEET s.

mmml,

A. A.-GEOSSARTH 6; T. E. BARKER;

TROLL-Eff CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR.5,,1909.

Patented May 13, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

limllll iis ALBERT A. GBOSSARTH AND THEODORE E. BARKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TROLLEY-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

fuocia'ri.

$pecification of Letters Patent.

Patented May is, rare.

Application filed April 5, 1909. Serial No. 488,045.

inp; to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construc tion in an apparatus for automatically drawing down below the elevation of trolley wires the trolley poles of cars which have accidentally left the wire, the object being to provide simple and etlicient n'leans for preventing the striking of the cross-Wires or other trolley wire supporting devices by a disengaged trolley-pole, and 'consists in the, features of constructitm and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan section of the same on the line S--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a vertical section of the same on the line 4-l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construction.

Our present invention relates more particularly to certain improvements in the construction of, apparatus .described and claimed in our application for Letters Patcut filed November 14, 1908, Serial No. 41-62591 and is designed to overcome certain defects found to exist in our device in order to render the app-a 'atus more etiicient and ng relation to the drum and at the same time into operation by the sudden release of the trolley from the trolley wire through the interi'uediacy of the means referred to in the latter part of the preceding paragraph.-

A further object of the invention consists in providing compensating means for taking up sudden slight elevations of the trolley against the inertiaot the said drum, such as occur in passing over bridges, switches, etc.

In the prior apparatus referred. to the motive power applied in a manner which renders necessary the application of relatively great force to insure anexcess of power over that exerted by the springs employed to maintain the free end of. the trolley pole of a car normally elevated. Cornpressed air supplied from the air brake system of the car is mainly relied upon by us to supply the requisite power and as the pressure in said system is subjectto great variations it is essential that means he provided which will assure positiveoperation at the minimum as well as the maximum pressure.

Other motive power than compressed air may, of course, be, employed but compressed air is deemed by us to allord the most easily accessible power for the reason that the supply thereof is not. as in the case of electric power, dependent upon the contact of the trolley with the wire and the consequent necessity of the provision of storage batteries on the car to assure the necessary current to operate the device.- It appears too that these two are the most available sources of power for our purpose and we prefer, therefore,' to employ the one which involves greatest simplicity in its employment and which also is themore re liable.

The improvements in' our present con struction over the prior one referred to will become apparent in the perusal of the following pages without particularly pointing out the same.

Our present apparatus comprises the plate 1 adapted to be mounted upon a car in any suitable manner and in a place best suited therefor, the latter being considered by us to be on the end wall or dashboard substantially midway between the sides of the car. The said plate is provided with an opening adjacent the middle portion there- A stud v end portion said plate by inserting tl" h the opening in "e 2 which it snugly tits, a osed on the threaded free said portion llerolubl r on the said stud a drum 6 eq. ed with annular flanges and 8 rewhioh is provided with flange and 10 respectively. ,9 is equipped on its outer race. t 1. To the inner race a spiral spring over idle upon one end a stud 16 of the "other end or" the said lever one end. of a tension secured at its other end rojection on the plate 1. The :erves to maintain the sheave lever normally at the of its increment "which is dethe stop 18 on. said plate L On portion of said lever roiection i9 and 1 the path of the latt s a pawl 26 pivotany disposed on a l l and which is adapted to be thrown b engagement With the I i bein maintained norits movement by being, provided l ing engagement stop pin diss pawl and deterits moi 'emcnt. The

18 is o isposcd also in too path of tho engaged end of the lever 15 to leits limit of movement in the other ii volubly mounted on the flange 2 of the a 1 is the movable member '24- o" a rotary motor the peripheral Wall o'l which is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 1 and confined between the latter and a plate 26, the latter being provided with a central opening in which the central projection or hub portion 27' of the member :24 4 its shugly, in the said hub portion 2'? are a plurality of longitudinal openings 28 Which-are e ls-rged at one end as as are longitudinally mo /able in A mings 2" each thereor bei snipped at, one end ennuthereof being soproi ection 19 to larly enlarged piston head 31 which snugly e en urged portions 29 of said openings 28 said plungers being normally main- 1 at, one limitof their movement by means of light. compression springs 32 in an obvious manner. At their other ends said plungers are adapted when moved against the action of the springs 32 to engage the sunken ratchet teeth 33 on one is cc of the drum 6, said sunken ratchet teeth pointing in the sanie direction as the ratchet teeth 11.

The peripheral m ll 25 of the motor is provided it diametrically opposite points with inwardly ext ending projections having beveled side races and dividing the annular space b e'tween said Wall 25 and the circumferential face of the member 2% into two compartments each or which is pro-- vidcd with an inlet port- 35 and an exhaust port 36'" disposed respectively at opposite ends of each compartment. In said member 2% is a plurality of radial slots 37 in each of which a piston plate 38 is longitudinally movable, each of said plates being maintained normally at the outer limit of its movement by means of the compression springs 39 in an obvious manner, the free ends or" said pistonplates being adapted to ride over the said projections 34 against the action of the said springs. This type of motor and its operation is too Well known to render detailed description thereof necessary. Alternating with the said slots 37 are radial openings 40 in said member 2 through. which compressed air enters the small cylinders formed by the enlarged portions 29 of the opening" 28, said enlarged portions being closed by means or plugs 41 and the piston heads 31 ot'the plungers 30 being equipped Withcentral -projections 42 which engage the plugs ll and maintain 'a free space between the latter ,and said. piston heads into which the compressed air is admitted, the latter serving to throw said plungcrs 30 into engagement with the sunken ratchet teeth against the action of the springs 32. The latter are preferably so light as to offer very slight resistance to the Il'lOVGlflBlltof the said plungers 30 so that the said plungers will be thrown into engagement with the ratchet 33 before the pressure in the pressure chambers of thexln tor shall be suffioient to impart movement to the member 24.

The admission of compressed air to the pressure chambers of the motor is controlled by aralve 43 the casingd l of Which is in tersoscd in the pipes connecting the motor with the air-brake system or the car, said valve casing being rigidly mounted on the plate l. The said valve d3 may be of any suitable type and is maintained normally closed by a spring 45 and by the air pressure thereon, The stem -16 of said valve llll lltl

noonavi projects at one end from said casing and into the path. of a member 47 mounted upon the hub-portion of the lever 15, said member consisting of a tlat spring which at its free end portion provided with a tongue 48. The latter engages the said valve-stem when said lever is turned in one direction and by "canon of the movement of said mem her ii" in the arc of a circle said tongue will, after forcing said valvcstem inwardly a given distance mov e out of its path in an obvious manner. A lever .1-9 pivotally mounted at one end on a stud 50 of the plate .1 nm'mally :1 its free end portion upon the projecting end portion of the valve-stein 16 when said valve is closed and when the latter is opened by the action of the member i? the free end of said lever drops into the path of said valve-stem, a

spring 51 being provided to insure this movement and a stop 52 limiting the same. Thus, after the valve has been opened it is maintained open by the said lever 49.

A bell-crank lever 53 is pivot-ally mounted at its elbow portion on a stud of the plate 1 and. is equipped at the free end of one of its arms with a cam projection 54 which is maintained normally adjacent the trolley rope 13 and. is adapted to be thrown out wardly therefrom by the collar 55 on said rope when the latter is Wound upon the drum 6 by the action of the motor. When this occurs the idler is disposed at the upper limit of its umvement so that said collar 55 will act as a wedge in passing between the periphery of said idler and said cam end of said lever 5 L lit the free end of the other arm of said bell -crank lever is a projection 56 which is adapted when said lever is turned by the engagement ol the collar 55 with the projection 54 to strike the lever -19 and throw the some out of the path of the valve-stem it], said spring 51 serving "to maintain said lover 5? in the position first mentioned by the engagement of the lever ill with the said projection 56.

The operation of our apparatus is as folloivs: The spiral spring 12 serves to main lain the trolley rope 13 tautbut the tension exerted thereby is insufficientv to overcome the tension of the spring 17 so that the ordinary movements of the trolley pole caused by variations in elevation oi the trolley wires will cause the drum (3 to oscillate slightly the said springs 12 and 17 being of such relative strength as to cause slight ll'lflVElllQIll' to be in'iparled to the lever 14 when a slight sudden jerk such as might be imparted by the bouncing and bounding of the car body or in passing over frogs, switches or other connections or impediments in the trolley line and rails is trans milled to the rope. As soon however, as the trolley leaves the trolley wire, the sudden unlimited jerk upon the rope due thereto will cause the lever 15 to be turned against the action of the spring 17 and throw the projection 19 into engagement with the spring 22 of the pawl thereby throwing.

the latter in yielding engagement with the ratchet 11. Said pawl thus locks the drum against n'lovemcnt in. a direction to unwind the rope l3 therefrom. The inertia oi. the drum 0 together with the resistance of the spring 1:2 prevents the sudden jerk imparted to the rope from setting the said drum in motion sufficiently early to prevent the movement of the lever 1521s above described it being essential of course to so regulate the relative tensions of the springs 12 and 17 to each other and to the sprirr s supporting the trolley role as to accomplish the desired results. T e movement of the lever 15 ob viously causes the valve 418 to be opened and the" lever 4-9 to be thrown into the path of the \"alvc-stein 46 to maintain said valve open. The opening of the valve 43 admits compressed air to the motor. The latter primarily throws the plungers into engagement with the ratchet 33 so that the drum (3 will be rotated With the member 24 in a direction to wind the trolleyrope upon the said drum against the action of'the springs supporting the trolley pole. The high tension of the rope during this open tion maintains the lever 15 in the last de scribed position until the collar on the rope engages and moves the projection 54: of the bcllcrank lever out of its path thereby turning said lever 53 and causing the projection 56 to throw the lever 19 out of the path of the valve-stcn1 46. The valve -13 closes instantly and the drum 6 now remains stationary until a member of the crew pulls the trolley rope in the same direction it has been moved by the drum 6. Such further movement of the rope should be sullicicnt to cause the lever 15 to return to its normal position, and. to allow the drum to be rotated slightly by the spring 12 whereby the pawl 20 is allowed to drop out of engagement with the ratchet l1, and the angular sides of sunken l'fLlCllQlhlCQtll 33 to push plungcrs 30 back into thei r normal position, the springs 32 being inteiided only to prevent plungers from working out into the path of the ratchet teeth 33 by vibration oi? the mechanism under normal conditions. The operator then gradually feeds out rope in the opposite direction until the trolley again engages the wire. In returning to its normal position the lever 15 causes the yielding member 4;? carried thereby to spring past the valvostcm 4:6 will be obvious The mechanism is new again in non mal position and the foregoing operations will be repeated as soon as the trolley again leaves the trolley wire. It is essential, of course, that the drum 6 when actuated by the motor shall draw the trolley end of the position close trolley pole a considerable distance below the elevation of the trolley wire and thus outoi' the path of the irolley wire support-- mg y The distance t'o which the trolley poleis lowered is delerininedby the position ofthe collar The latter be so located as to cause the pole lo lowered to its usual to the roo'l of the car when out of acl'ion and if this is done our saiddevice may be used to hold the pole down when the direction of travel of the car is reveised. Thus the device may be the means of saving considerable time al; terminals the-conductor need only give the rope a sudden upward jerk to set the apps rains in motion and immediately proceed to the other end of the car to release the other trolley pole.

in Fig. we have illustrated a modified form of construction in which another style of motor is employed, the remaining mechanism being identical with that shown in l 1g.

'lhe motor'illusirated in Figs. 2 and a is actuaied by direct pressure, Instead of this a motor actuated by the impingement of a jet of compressed fiuid delivered from a nozzle 57 may be employed as shown in the said Fig, 5. The said motor consists of a casing 58 in which a wheel provided with peripheral vanes 60 is revolubly mounted,

wheel beingrotated by the impingement of the jet of compressed fluid from the noz ale 5? upon the said vanes 60. lspur pinion 61 rigid with the wheel 59 meshes with a spur gear 62 substituted for the ratchet 1.1 on the drum 6 (shown in Fig. l) and which said. gear is engaged by the pawl 20 so that it performs two functions. The operation of this modified form of construction is identical with lhe preferred form hereinbefore described.

Va e claim as our invention:

1. In device of the kind specified, a

spring-aciuated rotatable drum, a trolley rope secured at one e thereto and maintained tautthereby, a a rmally free and in active motor, a member over which the trolley rope is trained controlling said motor, said member being actuated by a sudden erl: iinparied to said rope, and a clutch member carried by said motor and adapted to couple said drum therewith, said clutchbeing actuated to engage said drum by the power actuating said motor.

2. in a device of the lrind specified, a spring-actuated rotatable drum, a trolley rope secured at one end chereto and main-- rained taut thereby, a normally free and inactive fluid pressure motor, member over which the trol y rose is r ined controll'ng said motor, s i aciualed by a sudden jcrlr in ed said rope, and a fluid inert thereby, a normally v act-uaied'chuch member can accuser rie'd by said mot-or and adapted to couple said drum dierewilvh. I

3. In a device of she kind specified, a movable member, a trolley rope connected at one end therewith and rnain'ained taut rhereby, a normally free and inactive motor adapted to actuate said member, a second movable member over which said rope is trained between its ends and controlling said motor, said last-named member being acliuared by a sudden jerlr imparted to 'bhe trolley rope, and a clutch adapted to couple said motor with said first-named member, said clutch being actuated by the newer actuating said motor.

4. In a device of the kind specified, a movable member, a trolley rope connected at one end therewith and maintained taut thereby, a normally free and inactive fluid pressure actuated motor adapted to actuate said member, a fluid pressure actuated clutch ing said motor with said drum, valve controlling ilk connection of said motor and said clutch with the source of supply of linid under pressure, and a member controlling said valve and over which the irolleyro ae is trained and adapted to be actu ated by a sudden jerk on the latter to open said valve.

5. In a device of the hind specified,

=n1oyable member a trolls" ro e connected at one end therewith and maintained taut free and inactive fluid pressure actuated motor adapted to actuate said member, a fluid pressure actuated clutch engaging said molor said movable member, means controlling the connection of said motor and said clutch with the source of supply of fluid under pressure, and devices engaged with the trolley pole and actuated by a sudden jerk on the latter to actuate said means, whereby said clutch and said motor are actuated.

6. In a device of the kind specified, a trolley pole, a member having connection therewith, normally free and inactive power actuated means adapted to actuate said member, a member controlling the same and operatively engaged with the actuated by sudden elevation of the latter, and a clutch actuated by the power accuating said motor to operatively engage ter with said first-named member.

7. In a device of the kind specified, ley pole, means for depressing the same, a member connecting said means with said pole, a normally free and inactive fluid pressure motor for actuating said means, a fluid pressure actuated clutch motorwi'ch said means, a normally closed valve. controlling the fluid supply to said motor and said clutch, means conirolling valve opera-lively engaged with said member and adapr den eleva'cion of" aid pole for opening our alve, and carried by son trolley pole and the lata trolv for engaging" said till till

and adapted to engage and actuate said lastnamed means for closing said valve and stopping said motor said first-named means draws the trolley pole down.

8. In a device of the kind specified, a trollcy pole, a member having connection there with, normally free and inactive fluid pressure actuated. means adapted to actuate said member,- a member controlling the same and,

operatiiely engaged with the trolley pole and actuated by sudden elevation of the latter, and a fluid pressure actuated clutch operatively engaging said fluid pressure actuated means With said first-named member.

9. In a device of the kind specified, a trolley pole, a member having connection there with, normally free and inactive fluid pressureactuated means adapted to actuate said member, a member controlling the same and operatively engaged with the trolley pole and actuated by sudden elevation of the lat-- ter, and a fluid pressure actuated clutch operatively engaging said fluid pressure actuated means with said first-named member, and means actuated by said fluid pressure actuated means and controlling the connecticn thereof with said source of power for automatically stopping said fluid pressure actuated means.

10. In a device of the kind specified,a trolley rope, a member connected therewith and serving to maintain the same taut, a norreally free and inactive motor adapted to actuate said member, a member controlled by the trolley rope and controlling said motor, said memberbeing actuated by sudden jerks of the trolley rope to throw said motor into action, a clutch actuated by the power actuating said motor and operatively engaging the latter with said first-named member, and secondary means controlling said motor and actuated thereby to automatically stop the same.

11. In a device of the kind specified, the combination with a normally inactive motor,

and a trolley poleoperatively connected.

therewith and adapted to be actuated thereby, of means interposed in said connection and adapted to be actuated by the trolley pole to start the motor, and means int-er posed. in said connection and actuated by the motor to automatically stop the same.

12, In a device of the hind specified, a trolley rope, a member connected therewitl'i and maintaining the same taut, a norn'ially free and inactive motor, a clutch adapted io one 'ativ'ely engage said motor with salt; member and actuated by the power actuating the former, a member controlling the connection between said mote and the source oi. power and operatively engaged by said rope and actuated by a sudden jerk on the latter to establish said connection, secondary means controlling said connection, and means actuated by said motor and actuating said sec-- onclary means to automatically interrupt I ber carrying the said idler, a spring maintaining said member normally at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of said rope, a nori'nally free and inactive motor, power actuated means throwing said motor into actuating relation to said drum, and a device controlling the connection of said motor and said power actuated means with a source of power, said device he g actuated by said idler carrying member when the latter is moved against the action of the spring engaging the same.

14. In a device of the kind specified, a rotatable drum, a trolley rope secured at one end thereto, a spring operatively engaging said drum. to turn the same in a direction to Wind the rope thereupon and maintaining the said rope normally taut-,an idler over which said rope is trained, a movable member carrying the said idler, a spring main laining said member normally at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of said rope, a motor adapted to actuate said drum to turn the same in the same direction as its actuating spring, a device controlling the connection of said motor with its source of power, said device being actuated by the said idler carrying member, a dog adapted to engage said device to maintain said motor connected with its source of power, an enlargement on the trolley rope, and a lever actuated thereby and operatively engaging said dog to release paid-device.

15. In a device of the kind specified, a rotatable drum, a trolley rope secured at one end thereto, a spring operatively engaging said drum to turn ti 5 same in a direction to wind the rope thereupon and maintaining the said rope normally taut, an idler over which said rope is trained, a movable mem ber carrying the said idler, a spring 1naintaining said member normally at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of said rope, a normally inactive notor adapted to actuate said drrun to turn it in the same direction as its actuating spring, a normally free dog adapted to be actuated by said idler carrying member and thrown thereby into engagement with said drum to stop the latter, a device actuated by said idler carrying member and controlllng the connection of said motor with its source of power, a trip lever engaging said device after actuation thereof by said idler carrying member to maintain the connection of sa id motor with its source of power, an an ltd ill)

:aoe

16. in a can, a trolley controlling device 7 comprising a rotatable drunna trolley rope secured at one end thereto, a spring operatively engaging said drum to turn the same In a direction to WlIlCl the rope thereupon and maintaining the said rope normally taut, an idler over which said rope is trained, a movable member carrying the said idler, a spring maintaining said member normally at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of said rope, a motor connected with a source of supply of compressed air and adapted to said drum to turn the latter in the same direction as the spring actuating'the same, a normally closed valve interposed in said connection a member carried by said idler carrying member actuating said valve to open the same, a member operatively engaging said valve when open to maintainthe same in said position, a collar on the trolley rope, and a trip lever en aging said last-named: member and actuated by said collar to throw the said member out of engagement With the said valve.

17, In a device of the kind. specified, a spring actuated drum, a trolley rope secured at one end thereto, an idler over which th said rope is trained, a movable member carrying the said idler, a s ring normally maintaining said member at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of the trolley rope, a ratchet rigid with said drum, and a normally free dog adapted t engage said ratchet to hold said dram against rotation in a direction to unwind the {rrolley rope, said dog being actuated by sail; memher when the latter is turned against the action of its sprin l 18. In a device of the kind specitledfa spring actuated drum, e trolley rope secured at one end thereto, an idler over which the said rope is trained, a movable member rying the said idler, a spring normally maintaining said member at one limit of its movement against the normal tension of the trolley rope, a fluid pressure motor con nected with a source of supply of fluid under pressure and adapted to actuate said drum, anormaliy closed va 'e controlling said connection, a. ratchet rigid with said drum, and a normally free dog adapted to engage said ratchet to hold said drum against rotation in a. direction to unwind said rope, said member When turned against the action of its spring throwing said dog into engagement with said ratchet. and onesing said valve,

19. he device of rotatable spring actuated drum, a trolley rope secured at one end thereto and mains motor with said dining and a s1 is no? actuate the kind specified, e

move Lent, l, ressure motoi, a liuid pressure actuated noimall' clutch coirolhng engagemer' of really closed valve controlling d motor and said clutch, said vslve operatively engaged and opened by member- When turned against the action oi its 20. a device the l; l snecitied e rotatable soring actuated c am, a trolley, rope secured at one end thereto and maintaincd taut thereby, over which said trolley rope is tra'ne a movable be: carrying the sai sprint loom mally maintaining the saic ler a"; 0 limit of its movement, a fluid pi'essuiw motor, a fluid pressure actuated norr a free clutch controlling the engagemen or said motor with drum, si v controlling said motor and said clot-ch, and a normally free memloer opted to operativelv engage said drum to hold the same against rotation in a direction unwind said rope, said idler carryin eratively said las' ed memiier throw the former into e L 21. In device of the rotatable spring actuated rope secured at one end t tained taut ZheIelJ' an said trolley rope is trained, a move? l her ca-rrying the said idler, aspring no.1- mally maintaining the sa idler i limit of its movemei t, a lluid ated motor, a fluid presstv hated nor- 105 mall free clutch centre" enq ment said motor with said drum, a s

gle valve controlling said met 2 and clutch, and a normally '1' ed to operatively engage sail drum to hold {so a direction the same against rotation unwind said rope, said idle oer operatively engaging member and said valve and throw the former into A said drain, a member oper 7 said v ve when opened to '91: thereo I a. c llar the trolley lever adapted to he engaged and by said. ollar and said lastmember to release said vali a 22. In a device of the is \r specified,- rolley rope, a movable ices." connects with the free end thereof maintai ine the latter taut, a take-up ever the trolley rope is said take-up memhei: em for sudden slight variati is in ele the trolley against the lee named member, a

adapted to actuate said first-named member, and a normally released clutch actumed by the power actuating said motor and (mm-01- ling the actuating relation of said motor with said first-named member, said izmkemp member controlling said motor and said clutch.

In testimonv whereof We have signed our names in presence of two mflwmibing wit- ALBER'}? A. GROSSARTH. TJEODORE F. BARKER. V'Vitnpsscs 

